"Evaluate the extent to which liberalism is united over the role of the state." (24)
Introductory paragraph
Liberalism is an ideology characterised by a positive view of human nature. Enlightenment
philosophers are given credit for shaping liberal ideas. These ideas were rst drawn together and
systematized as a distinct ideology by the English philosopher John Locke, generally regarded as the
father of modern liberalism. Classical liberalism focusses on laissez faire, free market principles with
limited state intervention whereas modern liberals believe in an interventionist state that gives equal
opportunity to all. This essay will argue that there is agreement to a certain extent but there are
fundamental differences between a classical and modern liberalist.
P1: Role of the state
• There is a strong consensus between liberals over the basic role of free state. Both classical and
modern liberals assert that the core function of the state is to protect 'natural rights'.
• The concept of 'natural rights' originated from Locke- God-given. These are life, liberty and
property (property was key for Locke).
• Friedan and modern liberals, such as Rawls, were also huge advocates for 'natural rights'.
Rawls believed Just society = foundational equality + formal equality + social and economic
equality.
• In addition, both classical and modern liberals agree that individuals have fundamental rights
such as Freedom of Speech that should be respected by the State.
• Liberals argue that we must tolerate views that we may nd offensive.
• Nevertheless, individuals have a duty to ensure that their actions do not limit the rights of
others.
• Liberals do not support speech that advocates violence as it holds the potential to limit the
freedom of others.
• This is illustrated in Mill's harm principle. Liberals also agree that the state should be
rationalist in nature.
• Liberals, such as Wollstonecraft, rmly believe that we should be allowed to express ourselves
fully as guided by our own free will rather than by outside authorities (religion, the
authoritarian state) via a rationalist education system.
P2: the size of the state
• A major area of divergence in liberalism exists in relation to the size of the state.
• Classical liberals, such as Locke, advocate a minimal or 'night watchman' state to maximise
personal freedom (negative liberty).
• To classical liberals, the minimal state respects individualism and property rights.
• They believe in a limited state that involves upholding justice and preventing incursion
from foreign powers.
• The key apparatus of a limited state would be a police force, judicial system and an army.
Conversely, modern liberals advocate an enabling state to maximise equality of opportunity
(positive liberty).
• Modern liberals, such as Rawls, criticise the minimal state and the negative conception of
liberty as it allows 'freedom to starve'.
• Modern liberals believe that the purpose of government is to create conditions where
people can help themselves and ful l their individual potential.
• State intervention provides assistance to individuals and succeeds in compounding social and
economic disadvantage.
• For example, if an individual is living in poverty they do not have the freedom to act
accordingly to their own wishes and so modern liberals believe in the creation of the welfare
state as it provides equality of opportunity.
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, • Keynes suggested gov’ts should ‘manage’/’steer’ economies by in uencing the level of
aggregate demand by ‘injecting’ demand into the economy in the hope of achieving full
employment.
• However, Classical liberals strongly oppose Keynesianism because it requires debt, or tax
rises, to pay for it.
• classical liberals see Rawls' ideas as 'illiberal', as in their view, redistribution of wealth is a
'surrender to Socialism' and collectivist thinking at the expense of the individual.
P3:
• liberals agree only to a limited extent on the role of the state.
• This is con rmed by the contrasting views that modern liberals (enabling state) and classical
liberals ('minimal' or 'night watchman' state) have in terms of the size of the state and its
institutions. Rawls' interventionist state could never be tolerated by Locke and Mill even if it
claimed to be promoting equality of opportunity.
• Crucially however, there is some limited agreement in terms of the state's role protecting
'natural rights' (Rawls and Friedan agreed on civil liberties issues) and in its overall role of
promoting individual liberty (be it as Berlin observed 'positive' or 'negative').
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, "Evaluate the extent to which there is tension within liberalism over the question of human nature"
Introductory paragraph
Liberalism is an ideology characterised by a positive view of human nature. Enlightenment
philosophers are given credit for shaping liberal ideas. These ideas were rst drawn together
and systematized as a distinct ideology by the English philosopher John Locke, generally
regarded as the father of modern liberalism. Classical liberalism focusses on laissez faire, free
market principles with limited state intervention whereas modern liberals believe in an
interventionist state that gives equal opportunity to all. This essay will argue that there is
agreement to a certain extent but there are fundamental differences between a classical and
modern liberalist.
P1 Agree
Rights
• Everyone is born with foundational equality/natural rights. They are essential to protect us
from abuse by the state which is prone to corruption. Lord Acton "Power tends to corrupt, and
absolute power corrupts absolutely".
• Locke- Natural Rights- God-given. These are life, liberty and property (property was key for
Locke). Jefferson- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Utilitarians (version of classical liberals)- Bentham- natural rights were nonsense on stilts but
believed that rights must be enshrined in law
• Rights are at the centre of our existence
• Modern development of rights have been made into human rights
• As time has gone on, liberals have become acutely aware of the rights of minority groups. E.g.
Friedan (women), Rawls (the poor)
Tolerance
• The acceptance of the different values of traditions
• Promotes the concept of liberty for all
• Agree on consent of the governed and limited government power
• Locke- tolerance of religion (Letter concerning tolerance 1689)
• Lead to American secularist society separating the church and the state
• The harm principle (Mill)- there is a limit to tolerance.
• Tolerance of gender, homosexuality, race etc. has increased
Positivity
• All liberals have a positive view of human nature. Humans are rational with equal moral worth
and our role is to pursue the maximisation of our personal utility.
P2 Disagree
Freedom is essential to maximising our own personal utility but we believe in different types of
freedom
Classical liberals- negative liberty (small, limited nightwatchmen state)- basis for Adam Smith's
laissez faire economic approach
Modern liberals- positive liberty. State intervention (a welfare state) NHS, state education system,
Universal credit (bene ts)
Our capacity for hard work
Classical liberals- our natural capacity for hard work and our natural talent should be enough to push
us towards ful lment (rugged, egotistical individualism)
Modern liberals- hard work is not suf cient on its own for success because the poorest in society get
trapped in poverty. FDRs new deal. Linden Johnson's great society- money spent at improving
employment ability, transport.
Different views on individualism
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